It might not be the official end of summer but by the time September rolls around I'm ready to step into my coziest sweater and trade in my summer spritz for a spiced cider.
One of my favorite "Welcome to Fall" traditions is the end-of-summer book haul. I'm like one of those small furry animals storing food for the winter, except in my case books are the food.
Anytime I start feeling guilty about it I remember that someone told me recently that books are like wine - they don't need to be enjoyed immediately. You can collect them and hide them around your apartment or stare at them indecisively until you’re ready to read them.
I’m going to lean into this way of thinking whenever I'm debating whether or not to add one more to the pile.
With that in mind, I’d like to note that I’ve acquired 3 more books in the time it took me to draft and publish this.
Tiny Dale Cooper (hanging over to the right) approves
Mrs. Nash's Ashes by Sarah Adler
I didn't get to everything on my summer reading list but I'm so glad I got to this one. Millie, a die-hard romantic and former child star, is on a mission to honor her elderly friend's dying wish by reuniting her (well, three tablespoons of her ashes) with a long-lost love. On the way, she's forced to team up with Hollis, a delightfully grumpy writer from her ex's MFA program. What surprised me most about this one was how Adler managed to craft a story that was fun, a little zany, and bittersweet. Millie could have easily turned into a caricature because of her endless optimism but Adler managed to keep you rooting for her.
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
I realize that in reality, the fake dating trope is ridiculous. Did that stop me from ripping through the pages of yet another fake-dating romance? Not one bit. Along with fake dating, this one’s got love letters, terrible first impressions, and heavy real-life stakes. You've got two well-developed characters, Dr. Briana Ortiz and her new colleague, Dr. Jacob Maddox. They both have strong character arcs and a plot that propels the story forward without weighing it down. At times, I did want to shake these two miscommunicating idiots but between Briana's past relationship trauma and Jacob's anxiety, I was more forgiving than usual.
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton
Dolly Alderton's memoir, "Everything I Know About Love", proves that being an adult is hard. Her personal stories about falling in love, navigating the job market, and surviving heartbreak are messy and relatable. If you've ever found yourself crying over into BEC as your bodega guy hands you tissues, this one is for you.
In other news…
One of those stories I mentioned in an earlier post is out in print this month!
Posted by Oh Reader via Instagram | Image by choicewordsedit
I have a new piece in the latest issue of Oh Reader Magazine titled, “My Perfect (Fictional) Boyfriend”. Whether you're a romance fan or a single gal trying to navigate the horror story that is modern dating, this one's for you 😉 .
Available online here or in bookstores like Barnes & Noble nationwide.
I may need to create a fictional boyfriend bingo card now…
Congratulations ❤️
I am SO with you on being over summer the second september hits. Sadly this year, we seem to have traded July and September weather.
Raising a glass of spiced cider from here to your article coming out and that glorious book haul
stack! I am a perpetual book hoarder but it feels so fun to build a curated autumn stack from the books I’ve gathered... I’ll report back. Thanks, as always for the inspiration!